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2 Objectives….Describe Nixon’s policies toward the war in Vietnam, the Soviet Union, and Communist ChinaExamine the conflicts created by the secret bombing of Cambodia, the American withdrawal from Vietnam, and the “new isolationism” represented by the War Powers Act

4 Who was Richard M. Nixon? Shy and remoteBorn into poverty – always felt an outsiderOften seemed stiff and lacking in humor and charmFew close friends – spent time with family at estates in Cal. and Fla. (lavishly redone at government expense)

9 The Election of 1968 Wallace won 13.5 % of the vote 5 southern statesmiddle-class white northerners tired of inner-city riots and anti-war protests – (“White backlash”)Humphrey took 42.7% of the voteRichard Nixon won with 43.4%

12 Vietnamization…1968 – Nixon said he had a plan to end the war – but wouldn’t explainRemove Am. forces and replace with S. Vietnamese1968 – 543,0001972 – 39,000Did not want to lose – resumed bombing of N. VietnamWidened the war beyond Vietnam

13 Nixon’s VietnamizationNixon spoke of “peace with honor” while the US continued bombing campaigns into Laos and Cambodia to cut supply linesNixon appealed to the “silent majority”

14 My Lai Massacre…In Nov Americans learned of the massacre of 504 of S. Vietnamese civilians – mostly women, children, and elderlyLt. William Caley, Jr. was the leader of the platoon responsibleCaley was court-martialed and convicted of premeditated murder

18 Extending the war beyond Vietnam…Cambodia – communist camps from which the enemy was mounting attacks on South VietnamU.S. announced bombing of Cambodia in April, 1970Fresh wave of protests on college campuses –Largest series of student demonstrations in U.S. history

22 Cambodian children rolling an unexploded bomb to a scrap metal dealer…

23 Kent State UniversityMay 2, 1970 – student protesters burnt down the ROTC buildingGov. Rhodes sent Ohio National Guard to Kent StateMay 4 – classes were held – guardsmen were on campus – 200 students and protestorsAfter several confrontations – guard opened fire on crowd

26 Campus unrest… 4 students killed at Kent State – 9 woundedMay 14 – Jackson State University – state troopers shot 2 students and wounded 12900 college campuses closed down after shootings37 college and University presidents signed a letter calling for war’s end100,000 march on Washington

35 The Hardhats… Construction workersBuilding and Trades Council100,000 members held rally supporting governmentbroke up an anti-war rallyMany Americans supported the National Guard and felt the students “got what they deserved”

36 The War Continued…1971 Nixon directed S. Vietnamese to invade Laos to cut supplies – defeated1972 Nixon ordered the mining of N. Vietnamese harbors and bombing of Cambodia and N. VietnamDecember, 1972, Kissinger met in Paris with Le Duc ThoCease-fireWithdrawal of U.S. troopsReturn of U.S. prisoners of war

38 The war…Nixon unleashed the “Christmas Bombings” of Hanoi and Haiphong, 100,000 bombs over 11 daysJan 27, 1973 an agreement was reachedOn March 29, 1973 the last US troops left for homeFebruary 12, Operation Homecoming begins the release of 591 American POWs from Hanoi

42 The Fall of SaigonWithin months of the US departure the cease fire was brokenIn March 1975 North Vietnamese launched a full scale invasionThe US sent $ to South Vietnam but no troopsPres. Ford did not want another nightmareOn April 30th, 1975 North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon - renamed Ho Chi Minh City

45 What was the Vietnam legacy?No victory parades for Vietnam VetsMany faced bitterness and hostilityMany had debilitating injuries and drug dependencies15% or 3.3 million soldiers developed post traumatic stress disorder58,000 US troops were killed$150 billion

46 Millions of Vietnamese were killed -chemicals like agent orange have polluted the environment and caused birth defects and cancer, 400,000 re-educated by the communistsThe Communists forced 1.5 million people out of Vietnam - 50,000 boat people perishedCambodia’s civil war in which Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot killed 3 million Cambodians

47 The US abolished the draftIn Nov Congress passed The War Powers Act in which the President must inform Congress within 48 hrs. of sending forcesTroops cannot remain longer than 90 days without authorization from CongressIn 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unveiled in Washington DC

49 Nixon’s Foreign PolicyKissinger promoted the idea of the “realpolitik” - political realism (Foreign policy is based on consolidation of power)US should confront and deal with the powerful nations (Negotiations/Militarily)Nixon and Kissinger had a flexible approach in dealing with Comm.Pushed for “détente” or a relaxing of Cold War tensions

50 “Playing the China Card”“Ping-pong” diplomacy began in 1971Take advantage of the rift between the China and the USSRFeb., 1972 – Nixon visited China -symbolic - opened up diplomatic and economic relationsMajor shift in U.S. foreign policyBoth would cooperate and participate in scientific and cultural exchanges

63 Objectives…Analyze Nixon’s domestic policies, his appeal to the “silent majority,” his opposition to the “Warren Court,” his “southern strategy,” and his landslide victory against George McGovern in 1972…

64 Nixon appealed to the “silent majority”Appealed to hostility toward protestors and countercultureAmericans who worked, paid taxes, and did not protest“People who love their country”Restore law and order

65 Nixon promised…To appoint federal judges who would undercut liberal civil rights interpretations and be tough on crimeTo role back the Great SocietyRestore law and order

67 Nixon’s New ConservatismNixon was determined to turn the US into a more conservative direction with a sense of orderThe US was intensely divided over NamNixon felt LBJ’s Great Society programs gave the federal gov. too much power

68 Two Sides to Nixon’s New FederalismThe Nixon Administrationincreased Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicaremade food stamps more accessibleSubsidized housing for the poorOversaw creation of Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationSupported Family Assistance Plan (guaranteeing minimal income for the poor- defeated in the Senate)

69 And the other side….Nixon tried to eliminate the Job Corps, and in 1970 he denied funding for (HUD)By 1973 Nixon had impounded more than $15 billion in funds for housing, health, and education (Courts overturned the impounding)Nixon abolished the Office of Economic Opportunity

70 Law and Order Politics He played to the “silent majority”Nixon used the FBI and CIA to investigate American dissidents and political enemiesThe IRS was used to audit anti-war and civil rights activists returnsNixon had a “enemies list” of who to harassVP Agnew attacked liberals, the media, and anti-war protestors ( Pit-bull)

72 “Ultraliberalism today translates into a whimpering isolationism in foreign policy, a mulish obstructionism in domestic policy, and a pusillanimous pussyfooting on the critical issue of law and order.”

74 What factors contributed to stagnation?Presence of women and teenagers in job market….Declining investment in new capitalCost of government safety and health regulationsShift – manufacturing  servicesVietnam War…International economic competition….

75 What factors contributed to inflation?Vietnam War + Great Society – inflationary spending with no check (higher taxes) – put money in people’s hands but fewer goodsDrastic increase in the price of oil

76 Oil problems? OPEC raised the price of oil in 1960sThe Six Days War in 1967The 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and Egypt and SyriaThe US military aid to Israel  Arab OPEC nations cut oil sales to the US (Oil Embargo) By 1974 price increased 4xMajor gas lines and shortages in the US early, mid 1970s

80 Nixon Battles Stagflation…To reduce deficit - raised taxes and cut the budget (Congress opposed)Tried to reduce the inflation by pushing for higher interest ratesTook the US off the gold standardIn 1971 froze wages, rents, fees and prices for 90 days-it helped temporality but the recession continued

81 The Environment…Nixon supported the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Improved the Clean Air Act of 1963Supported the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970In 1973 the Endangered Species Act was passedMembership in the Sierra Club took off due to new concerns over the environmentOn April 2d, 1970 the first Earth Day was held

93 The Imperial PresidencyNixon expanded the power of the Presidency with little thought of Constitutional ChecksImpoundment of funds for fed. programsInvading Cambodia without the approval of CongressNixon felt the office of the Presidency was above the law

106 The Cover-Up Documents were shredded in Haldeman’s officeThe White House asked the CIA to urge the FBI to stop investigating the break-inCREEP passed out $450,000 to the burglars to buy their silenceThe burglary was of little interest to the public and the press

110 The Cover-Up UnravelsIn Jan McCord (burglar) sent a letter to Judge John Sirica (Presiding Judge)He lied under oath, and hinted others were involvedOn April 30th, Nixon fired John Dean and announced the resignations of Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Attorney General Richard Kleindiest

111 Nixon went on TV to promote his new Attorney General Elliot Richardson and he suggested a “Special Prosecutor” be appointed to investigate Watergate

112 The Senate InvestigationSenator Sam Ervin began called Administration officials to give testimonyDean admitted the President had been deeply involved in the cover-up (White House denial)

113 Presidential Aide Alex Butterfield revealed the tapes of Oval Office ConversationsA year long battle for the tapes began

116 So what did Jaworski do? He asked for the tapesThe Supreme Court ordered Nixon to turn the tapes over

117 The Fall of NixonMarch 1974 a Grand Jury indicted seven presidential aids on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjuryNixon released 1,254 pages of edited transcriptsIn July 1974 The Supreme Court ordered Nixon to give up the unedited tapes “I am not a crook!”

118 In Aug. Nixon released the tapes with an 18. 5 minIn Aug. Nixon released the tapes with an 18.5 min. gap (Rose Mary Woods accidentally erased the most crucial part)

121 What? No Vice –President?10 days before the Saturday Night MassacreSpiro Agnew resigned – accused of income tax evasion and taking bribesGerald Ford appointed Vice President under the 25th Amendment

122 Impeachment or Resignation?The House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment: obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of CongressOn August 8th , 1974 Nixon announced his resignationNixon admitted no guilt, some judgments “were wrong”

123 Gerald Ford was sworn in as PresidentFord gave Nixon a full Presidential pardon25 administration members served prison terms

131 Ford’s Unusual Road to the Presidency…Never elected to the Vice-Presidency or PresidencyOnly person to become President and Vice-President under the 25th AmendmentNelson Rockefeller became Vice-President under the 25th Amendment

132 The Nixon Pardon Ford gave Nixon a full pardon for WatergateCovered crimes Nixon committed or may have committed as Pres.Ford wanted to spare the country a trialSome Americans were outragedNone of Nixon’s former employees were pardoned and nearly all served prison terms

133 1973 – OPEC – Oil Embargo Inflation rose form 6% in ’73 to 10% in ’74Ford started the “WIN” campaign, (Whip Inflation Now) It failed.Ford urged Americans to cut back on use of oil and gasHe cut government spending, interests rates went up triggering the worst recession in 40 years

135 Foreign Policy Ford kept Kissinger as Sec. of StateHelsinki Accords – 1975Legitimized Soviet drawn borders in E. EuropeAgreement allowing for more open exchanges of people and informationMilestoneOne-sided

136 Vietnam…Wanted to continue to give money to aid South Vietnam, Congress refused, the South fell in 1975140,000 Vietnamese leftCost to U.S. - $118 billion56,000 Am. dead and 300,000 woundedU.S. lost respect

143 Civil Rights…. Courts: Milliken v. Bradley – 1974Desegregation could not require across district bussingReinforced “White Flight”Pitted poor whites and blacks against each other

144 Bakke v. Board of Regents1978 – Allan Bakke denied admission to U. of Cal. – Davis Medical SchoolSued – said his scores were better than the minorities who were acceptedSupreme Court – preference for admission can not be given to any groupRacial factors may be used in overall admissions processBakke admitted – “reverse discrimination”

145 Native Americans Asserted status as separate semi-sovereign peoplesSeized Alcatraz 1972 – Wounded Knee 1972United States v. Wheeler – 1978Indian tribes possessed a “unique and limited” sovereigntySubject to the will of Congress – not the states

148 Carter in the White HouseFormer peanut farmer and Gov. of GeorgiaPromised he would never lie to the American peopleCarter and Ford squared off over energy, inflation, and unemploymentCarter won by a close marginHe talked to the American people through FDR like “fire-side” chats by radio and TV

151 How did the economy change in the 1970s?Less manufacturing jobsMore jobs in communication, transportation, and retailGreater overseas competitionU.S. iron and steel and clothing – plant closings and lay-offsOPEC raised oil prices

152 Carter’s Domestic AgendaCarter urged Americans to cut back their consumption of oil and gasThe National Energy Act – taxed gas guzzling cars, removed price controls on oil and gas produced in the US, and gave tax credits for development of alternative energy.

153 In 1979 inflation hit 11.3%, 14% by ’80.Famous “malaise speech” - complained of a “crisis of spirit” in Americans.

154 Carter and Draft – Evaders?Wanted to end divisions in the countryGave full pardons to draft evadersNo pardons for desertersFew protested the pardons (put Vietnam behind us)

155 Three-Mile Island?March 1979 – nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island broke down  at risk for nuclear meltdownCaused widespread fearSome Americans doubted nuclear energy was safeNuclear power plants were held to stricter safety standards

157 Carter and Civil Rights?Appointed more women and African Americans to his administration than any other previous administrationAppointed Andrew Young as US Ambassador to the UN

158 Carter’s Foreign PolicyBased upon human rightsPublicly criticized the Soviet Union and South AfricaMost countries that violated human rights no longer received U.S. foreign aidPanama Canal Treaty – gave canal back to Panama on December 31, 1999

162 Carter and China?Formally recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China1979 – trade and cultural contacts increased

163 Afghanistan? Hotbed of Islamic fundamentalismThe government backed by S. U.S. U. invaded to protect government against fundamentalistsCarter protested  suspended grain and high-tech sales to SovietsBoycotted 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow

164 Iranian Hostage Crisis?Shah of Iran a strong ally of the U.S.1978 Shah was overthrown by Islamic fundamentalists – Ayatollah KhomeiniCarter allowed the Shah to enter the U.S. for cancer treatmentNov. 4, 1979 Khomeini’s followers seized U.S. embassy in Tehran – 52 hostagesHostages released 444 days later – January 20, 1981